Steel lumber



w. c. JONES STEEL LUMBER Filed Aug. 4, 1925.

0000 00000 00000 a 00000 00000 a 00000 1 DDDDDDDDD 0000 Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES WALTER CLYDE JONES, 0F EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

STEEL LUMBER.

Application filed September 22, 1923.

T 0 (117 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Home CLYDE JONES. a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steel Lumber, of which the following is a full, clear. concise, and exact description, reference being: had to the accompanying drawin forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of structural steel members, generally known as steel lumber, that are utilized in building construction.

More particularly my invention has spe cial reference to steel lumber that may serve in a. building construction as a substitute for wooden joists, wooden rafters, wooden studs, wooden lathing, wooden flooring and the like and, at the same time. perform the functions required of such correspoudingr wooden members in a much more satis factory manner. As aresult of my present invention. a building: construction embodyin g. my steel lumber may be made sub stantially tire-proof or. at least, the tire hazard thereof may be reduced to a minimum. My steel lumber may be conveniently and economically manufactured from a single rolled section or unitary member that is then subsequently formed into the neces sary shape whereby it may then serve most satisfactorily as a substitute for the usual wooden members that have heretofore entered into a building construction.

again. by reason of my present invention. steel lumber is manufactured from metal sections that may be readily rolled and pressed in conformabilit-y with commercial requirements by the usual rolling mills and presses since my steel lumber is fabricated in the form of relatively light members.

T 0 compare specifically wooden members that have heretofore entered into a building: construction with the steel lumber of my present invention, I might state that wooden building members such as joists, rafters, studs. lathing, flooring and the like, are made in separate and distinct pieces, each requiring; a separate manufacturing operation as well as separate handling and assembling, in order to incorporate them properly into a building structure. lily steel lumber is manufactured from a unito 0 rolled section that, when properly formed, may serve as an integral combina- Serial No. 664,155.

tion joist, lathing and flooring structure, or as a. combination stud, interior lathing and exterior lathing structure, or as other similar combinations. My steel lumber sections, after being formed in accordance with requirements, are then assembled into a built-up structure by securing the lumber sections to one another in any suitable perumnent manner thus procuring a fabricated metal building construction. i

Heretofore steel lumber has been manufactured as separate and distinct sections such as joists. studs, rafters, flooring, latlr lIlQ and the like. In some instances, it has been eustmnary to build up separate floor members. as joists and studs, from a. plural ity of sheet metal parts of standard form, for instance, channel irons, angle irons, steel plates and the like. In such construction the standard parts have been riveted to- ,fether or spot-welded and, as a result, such built-up steel lumber sections have been expensive to manufacture and cumbersome to handle. In building; constructions employing such prior built-up steel lumber sections, the metal lathing or metal flooring had to be separately handled and applied as an imlepcmlent. member to the supporting studdingr members. such as joists and studs. This method of building construction is exceedingly expensive.

An object. therefore, of my invention is to provide steel lumber sections from which a building construction may be fabricated and each of which constitutes a unitary rolled member that may be subsequently fashioned as a combination integrally formed studding and interior lathing and exterior lathingr member, or as a combination integrally formed joist and lathing and flooring member, or as other suitable combination integrally formed members that comprise building construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such steel lumber sections as I have indicated above which comprises rolling a properly shaped steel section that is subsequently formed by means of a suitable press operation to provide a steel lumber member as described above.

A. further object of my invention is to provide steel lumber sections that are capable of being nested. into one another so that minimum space will be required for storing and shipping them and whereby a number of such steel sections may be handled together without undue inconvenicnce.

Another object of my invention is to provide steel lumber sections that are capable of beingexpeditiously assembled and secured to one another permanently, if desired, without requiring any extensive fitting or matchi of the sect ons entering; into the build construction )ricated from my steel iumher sections.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new form of. building construction which is fabricated from Z-shaped steel lumber unitary sections that are secured to one another and. assembled to form a permanent skeleton structure.

Other objects oi my present invention will be hereinafter described and for a better understanding of the nature, scope and characteristic features of my invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying; drawings, in Wl'llCl1- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a rolled steel section embodyinga form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rolled steel section of Fig. 1 showing one of the plane relatively thin lateral portions perforated, if desired, to form a metal lathing;

3 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a building construction of my invention comprising Z-shaped unitary steel lumber formed from the rolled steel section of Figs. 1 and 2;

4 is a cross-sectional View showing a rolled steel section that may be embodied in my building construction as one of the end members, as shown, in F 3:

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rolled steel section of 4- in which the relatively thin lateral portion, if desired. is perforated to form. metal lathing;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified form of. the rolled steel section of Fig. l

Fin. 7 is a top plan view of the member illustrated in 6 in which one of the relatively thin lateral portions is perforated, if desired, to form a. metal lathing:

Fig. 8 is cross-sectional transverse view of a lmilding construction comprising the steel lumber sections of Figs. 6 and 7 g 9 is a cross-sectional transverse view showing a building; construction fabricated from steel lumber embodying; a form of :my invention;

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the method n which Zshaped steel lumber sections built in. accordance with my invention may be nested into one another so as to occupy minimum shipping and storage space; and,

.11 is view showing the method in.

which the end members incorporated in the building constructions of Fig. 8 may be nested into one another to occupy minimum shipping and storage space.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the first step in my present invention consists in forming a unitary rolled section of a shape that may be produced in rolling mills of the usual standard construction. The unitary rolled section of l emerges from a rolling mill with a relatively thick central portion. 1 having an integral flange 2 formed on its upper face along: one of its edges and a diagonally opposite integral flange 3 formed on its under face along its other edge. Adjacent to the upstanding; flange 2 a relatively thin plane or sustaining plate portion 4: is formed which may he c0extensive with the under face of the central portion 1 and, similarly, a second relatively thin plane or sustaining plate portion 5 is formed adjacent to the upstanding flange 3 and coextensive with the upper face of the central portion 1. The unitary sections of Figures 1 and 2 may be rolled into any suitable lengthsnamely, 12 feet, 14 feet, 16 feet and the like, corresponding to the standard lengths in which wooden lumber sections that enter into building construction have been furnished in the past.

In conformity with standard dimensions and specifications of wooden. members employed in the usual building construction, the unitary rolled steel luni .781 sections of 1 and 2, in addition to being rolled into proper lengths as mentioned above, may be so proportioned that the relatively thick central portion 1 is from .4: inches to 6 inches wide and about inch thick, and the sustfliilinff portions t and 5 may he 16 inches wide and approximately t, inch thick. In huildi. construction. it "is customary to spa e the sections constitutimz-i the studding minicly the joists. studs or weight supporting mcn'ibers. on H) inch centers and for this son I have suggested 16 inches as a suitable and convenient transverse dimension for the relatively thin, and oppositely extending sustaining plate portions 4- and 5, ihe usual depth of wooden studs or joists cn'ibodicd in standard, building construction ay range from t inches to 6 inches and to is end I have suggested a corresponding transverse dimension for the central relatively thick studding' portion 1 of my steel lumber section. Of course, I am not to be limited to any arbitrary dimensions or pronortions of the several parts of the unitary rolled section from which I fashion my steel himber. l

Referring to Fig. 3, I have shown the manner in which the rolled unitary sections of F' 1 and 2 may be subsequently formed nd assembled in order to be incorporated. into a. building construction. It will he observed that the relatively thick central portion 1 constitutes either the stud or joist, as desired, and as such is provided with a suitable thickness to sustain the necessary stresses and strains to which it may be subjected. The relatively thin sustaining plate portion 4 is bent at right angles to the cen tral portion 1 so as to project oppositely to the flange 2 from the central portion 1. Similarly, the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 is bent at right angles to the central portion 1 but in a direction opposite to the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 4. .rs a consequence. the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 pro ects from the thick central portion 1 in a direction opposite to the flange 3. If desired, the relatively thin portion 5 may be provided with a series of perforations 6, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thereby forming a metal lathing. Of course, it is to be understood that either or both of the portions 4 and 5 may be perforated as shown or serrated or otherwise distorted into any of the usual forms employed for lathing, flooring and the like. In the event that the central portion 1 serves as a stud the bent-over portion 4 may then serve as interior lathing, provided it is suitably distorted, and the bent-over portion 5 may serve as exterior lathing to which stucco may be applied. It the central portion 1 serves as a joist in a building construction, the bent-over portion 4 may then form a flooring member for the upper floor and the bent-over por tion 5 a metal lathing for the ceiling below.

The steel lumber section of Figs. 1 and 2, when suitably pressed or formed, constitutes a unitary Z-shaped member as shown in Fig. 3, and as such may be incorporated as a unit in a building construction with other similar Z-shaped members. In assembling these Z-shaped lumber sections to form a fabricated building construction, adjacent Z-shaped lumber sections are supported upon one another to form a skeleton structure.

It will be observed that when the thin sustaining plate portion 4 is bent-over at right angles to the relatively thick studding portion 1 a recess 7 is formed coextensive with the flange 2 and, similarly, a recess 8 is formed coextensive with the flange 3 when the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 is bent at right angles to the studding portion 1 and opposite to the portion 4. In assembled position the outer edge of the thin sustaining plate portion 4 of the adjacent Z-shaped member rests upon the flange 2 and by reason of the recess 7 is coextensive with the relatively thin portion 4 of the adjacent Z-shaped member. In a like manner the adjacent relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 of an oppositely adjacent member engages the lower face of the flange 3 and by reason of the recess 8 is coextensive with the "relatively thin portion 5 so as to form a flat plane surface for the ceiling. In assembling my steel lumber sections as shown in Fig. 3, the outer edge of the portion 4" may, if desired, be welded t the flange 2 or secured thereto in any other suitable manner and, likewise, the outer edge of the portion 5 may be secured or permanently attached to the flange 3.

To complete the built-up structure of Fig. 3 comprising my unitary Z-shaped steel lumoer sections. the ends of the structure are provided with a member 9 that is illustrated in Fig. 4-. The unitary lumber section 9 may be rolled in any suitable rolling mill and comprises a relatively thick studding portion 10 and the relatively thin sustaining plate portion '5". The outer edge of the relatively thick portion 10 is provided with an upstanding flange 11 which is preferably formed with a plane exposed edge. IVhen the member 9 is formed as shown in Fig. 3, so that the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 is bent at right angles to the relatively thick portion 10 the flange 11 may then serve as a support for the outer edge of the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 4 of the adjacent unitary Z-shaped steel lumber section. The relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 of Fig. 4 may be perforated, as shown in Figs. 3. 4 and 5, in order that it may serve as metallic lathing in conjunction with the metal lathing formed by the relatively thin sustaining plate portion 5 of the adjacent Z-shaped lumber section.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a. modified form of a lumber section in which a relatively thick central studding portion 12 is provided with a longitudinal upstanding flange 13 on its upper face. which flange is quite similar to the flange 2 formed on the studding portion 1 of the lumber section of Fig. 1. A second longitudinal flange 14 is formed on the under face of the studding portion 12 and provided with a. substantially flat surface 15, the purpose of which will be under stood in connection with the building construction of Fig. 8. A relatively thin sustaining plate portion 16, which in this instance serves as a metal lathing, is provided at its outer edge with the offset portion 17 which may be formed at the same time that the unitary lumber section of Fig. 6 is rolled or it may be subsequently formed, as desired. After the rolled unitary section of Fig. 6 is properly shaped, it will assume the Z-shape as shown in Fig. 8. In assembling the building construction of Fig. 8 the offset portion 17 will be received on the upper surface 15 of the flange 14 and may be welded to the flange 14 if it is desired to do so. The relation between the offset portion 17 and the flange 14 is such that in the assemble'd building construction the surface formed from the relatively thin contiguous staining plate portions 16 of my lumber sec. ans will be substantially level throughout.

in Fig. 9 l have shown a modified form for securing a relatively thin lathing or sustaining plate portion 18 or my steel lumber section to the studding portion 19 0t an adjacent steel lumber section. In this event, a flange 20 is bent up on the section 19 and is adapted to engage with a hook portion 2i formed on the outer edge of the lathing portion 18 of the adjacent Z-shaped steel lumber section. In this circun'istance, the engagement between the flange 20 and the portion 21 serves as a substitute for the oitset portion 17 and the flange 15E of the lniilding; construction shown in Fig. 8. "i hen the structure of Fig. 9 is adopted welding oi the adjacent Z-shaped lumber sections to each other may be dispensed with and the steel lumber sections will permanently retain their relative positions in the fabricated building construction.

By referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen iow my unitary Z-shaped steel lumber sections of Fig. 3 may be nested into one another in order to occupy minimum space in storage as well as in shipping. In Fig. 11, the unitary Lshaped steel lumber sections of Figs. 4c and 5 are nested into each other in order to occupy minimum space.

The terms studding, studding por- 7 lion, studs and the like as used herein,

comprise in their meaning such members as joists, studs, rafters, etc. that are adapted to serve as the weight supporting elements or members of a building s ructure. Likewise, the terms sustaining plate portion, lathinp portion, flooring and the like are used synonymously and comprise in their i'neaning lathing, either external or in ternal, on the ceiling or side walls, flooring and the like, wiich elements of a building structure are relatively thin in comparison with the studs or joists and are of suflicient width to span the space between adjacent members constituting the studding portions of a building structure. As herein described, the spacings and dimensions of the studding portions and ot the sustainingplate portions may be in conformity with the present standard spacings and dimensions employed in building structures but, of course, I am not limited to any arbitrary selection of size or dimension or spacing for m present steel lumber.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be apparent that I have provided a very economical steel lumber unit which may be readily formed from a unitary rolled section and which permits of convenient assembly and incorporation into a build ing; construction. At the same time,

nsraeoe steel lumber sections are 01": such shape that they may be readily nested into one another occupy minimum shipping and store space. Again, by employing my unitary Z-shapcd steel lumber a substantially lire-- proo't building construction may be expe'di tiously taln'icated in minimum time because three separate building members are conr prised in a single unitary section that may be conveniently handled.

While I have herein shown and described several embodin'ients off my invention, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be hunted to any specific structures shown and described since many modifications may be made in my invention Without departing from the scope and spirit or the appended. riaims;

Vi hat I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent 01" the United States is l. A one piece steel lumber section formed troi'u a rolled unitary member comprising'a relatively thick studding portion that serves as bu ilding supporting element, said studding portion having integrally formed exposed flanges disposed on opposite sides thereof along its two longitudinal edges, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending laterally tronr said studding portion and integrally formed therewith said sustaining plate portions being coextensive with and adjacent to said flanges.

2. A one piece steel lumber section formed from :1 rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick studding portion which serves as a building supporting element, said studdi portionhavingintegrally formed expose flanges disposed on opposite sides thereof along its two longitudinal edges and relati ely thin sustaining plate portions extending laterally from said studdin'g portion that arecoextensive with and adjacent to said flanges, each of said relatively thin portions projecting oppositely from its as- I I Li a sociated flan ge.

3. A one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relativelv thick studding portion having integrally formed longitudinal and oppositely exposed flanges along its two edges, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending laterally from said studding portion that are coextensive with and adjacent to said flanges, each oi. said relatively thin portions p je'ctinp; oppositely from its associated flange and one or said relatively thin portions being deformed to constitute a metal latliiiig. v p

A. one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick studding portion that serves as a building. supporting element. said studding portion having exposed and loneitndinal flanpes' disposed on opposite sides in etadding portion two edges, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending oppositely from each other and laterally from said studding portion with which said sustaining plate portions are integrally formed. each of said relatively thin sustaining plate portions be ing adjacent to one of said longitudinal flanges and said studding portion being longitudinally recessed on its opposed edges adjacent to each of said flanges.

5. A one piece steel lumber Stl' lHll comprising a central relatively thick studding portion having oppositely disposed flanges projecting therefrom along the longitudinal periphery of said studding portion, and in tegrally formed relatively thin sustaining plate portions adjacent to said flanges and extending laterally of and oppositely from said stndding portion.

6. A Z-shaped one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member con'iprising a relatively thick central studding portion, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending oppositely to each other and laterally from said studding portion and adjacent to opposed edges thereof.

7. A Z-shaped one piece steel lumber sec tion formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending oppositely to each other and laterally from said studding portion adjacent to opposc'l edges thereof, at least one of said relatively thin sustaining plate portions being deformed to constitute a metal lathing.

8. A Z-shaped one piecesteel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion having integral longitudinal flanges upstanding from the opposite faces thereof, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending oppositely to each other and laterally from said studding portion adjacent to opposed edges thereof, one of said relatively thin portions being deformed to constitute a metal lathing.

9. A one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion having upstanding integral flanges formed on opposite sides thereof and adjacent to its edges, and relatively thin sustaining plate por-- tions extending laterally from said studding portion and adjacent to said flanges, said relatively thin portions projecting in opposite directions from said studding portion.

10. A one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick studding portion having flanges projecting oppositely therefrom and formed adjacent to its edges, and relatively thin plate sustaining portions extending laterally from said studding portion and adjacent to said flanges, said relatively thin portions projecting oppositely from said studding portion and the associated adjacent flanges in parallel planes that are spared from each other.

ii. A one piece steel lumber section comprising a central relatively thick studding portion having flange-i projecting therefrom in opposite directions, a relatively thin sus- "1.1 plate lathing portion extending lat ei'all' from said stuilzling portion adjacent to one of said flanges but projecting oppositely therefrom, a second relatively thin sustaining plate portion parallel to but spaced f om said laihinir portion extending laterally from said studding portion adjacent to another of said flanges but projecting op positcly therefrom, said relatively thin sustaining plate portions and studding portion being integrally formed from a rolled unitary member.

one piece steel lumber section comcentral relatively thick studding ion having flanges projecting therefrom a opposite directions, a relatively thin tainingplate portion extending laterally o 1 said studding portion adjacent to one d flanges but projecting oppositely therefron'i. a second relatively thin sustain-- ing plate portion parallel to but spaced from said first thin portion extending laterally from said studding portion adjacent to another of said flanges but projecting oppositely therefrom, said relatively thin sus taining plate portions and studding portion being integrally formed from a unitary member, and one of said relatively thin portions being deformed to constitute a metal lathing.

13. A onepiece steel lumber section comprising a central relatively thick studding portion having diagonally opposite and exposed flanges projecting therefrom along its longitudinal periphery, and integrally formed relatively thin sustaining plate portions adjacent to said flanges that are bendable to be extended laterally of said studding portion and oppositely to each other.

14. A building construction comprising a plurality of side-by-side unitary Z-shaped lumber sections each of which constitutes a one piece member having a central relatively thick studding portion that serves as a building supporting element, a relatively thin lathing portion and another oppositely extending relatively thin sustaining plate portion, the several lumber sections when in assembled position having said lathing portions and said other oppositely extending sustaining plate portions similarly assembled to form severally contiguous and coinciding plane surfaces, said lathing port-ion of each lumber section being attached to the studding portion of a Z-shaped section on one side of said lumber section and said other opposed sustaining plate portion of each lumber secsir-0;

tion engaging the studding portion of a Z shaped section on the opposite side of said lumber section.

151A building construction comprising side-byside unitary Z-shaped lumber sections each of which comprises a relatively thick studding portion that serves as a building supporting element, a relatively thin lat-hing portion and a second relatively thin sustaining plate portion extending oppositely to said lathing portion the several Zshaped sections when in assembled position having their said lathing portions contiguous with one another and engaging the studding portions of adjacent Z-shaped sections on one side and having their said second thin sustaining plate portions likewise contiguous With one another and engaging the studding portions of adjacent Z-shaped sections on the side opposite to said studding portions engaged by said associated lathing portions, and means for securing theZ-shaped sections to one another.

16.A Z-shaped one pier-e steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion that serves as a building supporting element, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions "formed integrally with said studding portion and eirtending laterally therefrom in opposite directions, said studdin-g portion being longitudinally recessed adjacent to at least one of its edges.

17. A Z-shaped one-piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion that serves as a building supporting element, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions formed integrally with said stu'dding portion and extending latcral ly tion formed from a unitary member coin-v prising a relatively thick central studding portion th'at serves as a building supporting element, relatively thin sustaining plate ortions formed integrally with said studdiiig portion and extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions, and means for supporting the sustaining plate portions of ad jacent lumber sections upon said steel lumber section.

19. A Z shaped one piece steel lumber section formed from a unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studd ing portion that serves as a building supporting element, relatively thin sustaining plate portions tormed' integrally with said studding portion and extending laterally therefrom in opposit directions, and means for supporting upon said studding portion the sustaining plate portions of adjacent lumber sections.

20. A Z-shap'ed one piece steel lumber section formed from a rolled unitary member comprising a relatively thick central studding portion that serves as a building supporting element, and relatively thin sustaining plate portions extending laterally from said studding portion and in opposite directions from said studding portion, said studding portion and said; sustaining plate portions being integrally formed.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subsC-ribed my name.

WALTER CLYDE J ONES. 

